Radio alarm and timing mechanism



H. E; WYSONG Jan. 2, 1968 'RADIO ALARM AND TIMING MECHANISM Filed April28, 1965 ail-2W L RA 0/0 IPA-earn? United States Patent C) 3,361,974RADIO ALARM AND TIMING MECHANISM Harry E. Wysong, Kent, Ohio, assignorof one-half to Guy M. Showalter, Kent, Ohio Filed Apr. 28, 1965, Set.N0. 451,546 Claims. (Cl. 325-396) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The devicedeals with the use of conventional timepiece mechanisms with but minormodification, as timing devices for electrically operated appliances,particularly battery powered radios and the like, the current beingcarried through a bezel or crystal mounted, movable contact arm and thehour hand of the mechanism, means being provided to cause rapid make andbreak action be tween hand and contact means; the clock mechanism may beincorporated permanently, with little modification in a common casingwith the appliance or may be a wristwatch mounted temporarily on theradio case.

This invention relates to clock-operated devices, in particular devicespowered by a low voltage power source such as transistor radios and thelike and in part to an improved device over that shown in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 417,738, filed Dec. 11, 1964.

The use of modified watches and clocks as a means for cyclicallyoperating various devices, particularly electrical devices is wellknown, being shown in various prior art patents such as 327,919,1,261,411 and 3,146,324 among others. Also it is known to power a radiovia a removable timing device such as Shown in Patents 2,771,559 and2,771,560. In all cases, however, expensive components are involved oralternatively modifications to the timing mechanism are so complex as toremove same from the realm of readily available inexpensive, foolproofcommercial items which can be readily purchased at a reasonable price.Too, such devices are all subject, where a relatively straightforwardstructure is involved as in 1,261,411 for example, to erraticperformance and short service life for such reasons, as will becomereadily apparent hereinafter. Accordingly anobject of this presentinvention is to produce a reliable timing mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to produce a timing mechanismutilizing the hands of'a conventional watch as the make and breakcontact in a rapid, non-arcing positive manner.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a snap acting timingmechanism for radios which is simple and may be used as a conventionalwatch.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a conventional watchwith means whereby same may be used as a timing device or as isconventional in daily living.

An additional object of the invention is to produce an alarm radio ofsimple inexpensive components.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing aconventional watch orclock with a switch contact mechanism utilizing ahand of the watch as the timing medium and wherein said hand comprisesat least one member of a make and break switch mechanism and includingmeans wherein the switch is positively operated both in making andbreaking an electrical circuit.

The switch may be comprised of a hand of the watch and a contact armcarried by a watch case and comprising a rotatable bezel memberinsulated by a suitable insulator from the case, the bezel providing themeans for rotating the crystal and in turn being in abutment with aconductive ring carried by the. case of the timed article, such as aradio, with the contact arm extending eneath the crystal at one end andin a plane in close proximity to the plane of rotation of the watch orclock hour hand and having its opposite end disposed in contact with thebezel whereby an electric circuit can be completed through the watchmechanism, hour hand, contact, bezel, conductive ring and the powersource, etc.

Where convenient the watch may be of the electrically powered type andthe same power source may power both watch and the timed device,particularly a transistor radio.

Turning now to a detailed description of the invention and to thedrawings appended hereto and forming a part of this disclosure,

FIG. 1 is a face view of a pocket-sized personal radio combined with aconventional wrist watch in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention,

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1with certain parts removed for clarity,

FIG. 3 is a view of a small transistorized radio incorporated with atiming device in a common case according to this invention, while FIG. 4is a partial sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but taken alongthe line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a further modification of theinventive concept, and

FIGS. 6, 6a, 7 and 7a are top and side views respectively, of watch orclock hour hands incorporating features of the invention.

Turning now to FIG. 1 it may be seen that a conventional pocket-sizedradio 1%, preferably utilizing a readily available 1 /2- or 9-voltbattery is shown in combination with a wrist watch. While the specificarrangement of the various operating elements, volume control, tuningselector, etc., may vary, the radio comprises a suitable casing 1,housing the receiving circuit and the power source, access being had tothe latter via a removable back panel. The face or front of the casingincludes a speaker panel 2, a station selection aperture and tuningwheel or knob 3 and 5, respectively, and an on-oif volume control knob7. Examples of such radios are sold in volume under various names suchas Sony, Raleigh, and are manufactured by many well recognized U.S.producers such as Westinghouse, General Electric, among others,including vari ous foreign manufacturers.

The radio per se is modified only to the extent, as in this case, thatthe power source is connected to the receiving circuit via an externalconductor 11 as and for the purposes to be set forth hereinafter. Thespecific circuit used, is clearly illustrated in my copendingapplication Ser. No. 417,738 and need not be belabored in detail herein,though such a circuit is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, as will bedescribed hereafter.

As further shown in FIG. 1 and it should be understood, merely by way ofillustration, not limitation, a conventional wrist watch 13 ispositioned adjacent the center of and on the face of casing 1 with anysuitable wrist encircling band, for example, an expansion bandencircling the casing to retain the watch in place.

The watch mechanism itself is substantially conventional though, as willbe described, the crystal and/or bezel carrying the crystal may bemodified or changed in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a version of the invention wherein the radio case 1is provided with a conductive button 17. This button 17 projectsslightly above the surface of the face of easing 1 so that when thewatch 13 is positioned thereon the back 19 will be in firm contacttherewith.

It is quite conceivable that the button may comprise the name plate ormedallion of the manufacturer.

The button is preferably fastened through to the interior of the casingwhere a conductor 21 is soldered or otherwise fixed thereto. Thus anelectrical circuit may be established from battery B, conductor 11, thewatch mechanism 13, button 17 and conductor 21 to the radio receivingcircuit R shown schematically. For the purpose of operating the radioreceiver in the event the clock or watch mechanism is removed, thecircuit may include a double pole manually operated two-position switch25 and a further conductor 23 whereby the circuit may be bypassed fromthe battery through the switch 25 and conductor 21 to the receivingcircuit R. Obviously, the switch 25 would'have an operator extendingoutside of casing 1 for convenient manual manipulation.

Further considering FIG. 2 it will be seen that the watch mechanism isconventionally housed in the usual case 27 provided with a bezel 29carrying crystal 31 which crystal is rotatably fixed within the bezelfor 360 rotation therein in either a clockwise or counterclockwisedirection. The crystal 31 is pierced by a very thin, fine conductor orcontact arm 33, one end 35 of which is curved beneath and disposed inclose proximity to the plane in which the hour hand 37 of the watchrotates during normal operation. The opposite end 37 of the contact arm33 is terminated outwardly of the crystal in a generally bulbousprojection 40 which in turn is apertured laterally at 39, that isgenerally in the same plane or curved surface as that generated by theouter face of crystal 31. As shown the end of arm 11 may be providedwith a thin fiat terminal which is insertable into aperture 39. Thus,crystal 31 may be rotated to any position with respect to the face ofthe watch dial to position the contact arm 33 with respect thereto suchthat when the hour hand reaches that point where it contacts the end 35of contact arm 33 the circuit from source B is completed through arm 33,hand 37, the watch mechanism, button 17, etc., to the radio receivingcircuit with the result that the radio is turned on.

While various arrangements have been proposed prior hereto for utilizinga conventional timepiece as a timing mechanism for electrically powereddevices several failings which have plagued such devices have beenerratic performance, and lack of service life. In most instances this isattributed to the failure of the contact arm 33 to establish positivecontact with the watch hand or vice versa. Too, the delicacy of thecontact end 35 and the close tolerances required to assure contactbetween it and hand 35, but without creating a frictional drag problemhave generally contributed to the overall problem because any jarring,shaking, etc., of the Watch, as in conventional use can and does disturbthe contact-hand relation. Too, electrical arcing caused by improperpositioning of the contact contributes to short service life.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the present invention includesthe use of a magnetic force acting between the contact arm 33 and hand37 to assure abrupt and firm contact and release between these twoelements.

As shown in FIG. 5, the contact arm 33 has applied to its extreme tip 35as by adhesion or any suitable means, a small strip of ferromagneticmaterial 38 which is quite readily magnetized. This particularembodiment of the invention is useful particularly where the contact 31may be formed of a non-magnetic but conductive material such as aluminumor conductive plastic or the like. In FIG. 6 and FIG. 6a, the situationis reversed, i.e. the magnetic strip or slug 36 is applied to theextreme tip of hour hand 37. The latter arrangement may be preferable inthat watch hands are usually somewhat flexibly resilient, thusinherently contributing to the rapid make and break be tween the end 35of contact arm 31 and hand 37 as the magnet force overcomes thisresiliency when the hand approaches contact arm 33, and in turn isovercome as the hand moves away from said contact arm.

In FIG. 7 and FIG. 7a, a further modification is shown. In this caseonly the extreme tip of a ferromagnetic hand 37 is subject to a magneticfield. In this connection it has been found that the extreme tip of aWatch hand may be magnetized and will retain its residual magnetismwhere the remainder of the hand is shielded from the source duringmagnetization by a suitable shield. In contrast, magnetizing the wholehand, while partially successful is not as satisfactory because thefield tends to dissipate in a relatively short period of time. Thereasons for this phenomenon are not clearly understood,tbut the fact ofit has been observed.

Thus, because there is positive attraction generated between the contactarm 33 and the hand 37, the present invention presents a solution to thevarious difiiculties previously hampering use of ordinary andconventional timepieces as a timing device for electrically powereditems. It should be noted that magnetism has been avoided in the pastsince the effects thereof on the accuracy of timepieces is known.However, in this invention the strength of the field is so slight,because of the delicacy of the parts involved, as to have no effect onthe accuracy of the timepiece in most situations. Where, however, theinvention is applied to a timepiece having relative massive hands orcontact arm, it has been found practicable to form the face of thetimepiece of a magnetically shielding material.

Turning now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a further variation in structure isdisclosed whereby the circuit may be cornpleted from the movablemagnetized contact. This particular arrangement is particularly usefulin an arrangement as shown in FIG. 3 wherein the timepiece may beincorporated in more or less integral association within a radio casing40. In this arrangement, casing 40 is provided with an aperture 41through which the face of the timepiece 42 may be readily viewed. Theinner rim of the aperture 41 is provided with a conductive ring 43 ofmetal or other suitable material which may be embedded in the caseduring the molding operation. This ring 43 is in turn connected into theradio power circuit as illustrated schematically in FIG. 4.

The watch mechanism 42 per se, is unmodified except that in someinstances, i.e., where the hand is used as the magnetized make-or-breakcontact, the hour hand 47 is magnetized or is provided with a slug as inthe form of FIG. 6, FIG. 6a.

Mounted on the body or case of the watch, which is provided with theusual peripheral step 47 is an insulating ring 49 generally L-shaped incross section. This insulating ring may be maintained in place by anysuitable arrangement as is customary in the art; friction fit, forexample, and is exceedingly thin since its dielectric properties needinsulate against low voltage conductance.

The insulating ring in turn, is engaged by a bezel 51 which it receivesand in turn, by any suitable means, retains on the watch case. In anycase, the bezel-insulator contact is such as to retain the bezel inplace yet permit of its rotary movement on the insulating ring 49 andhence with respect to watch case 45.

The bezel 51 includes an outwardly extending peripheral flange 53 and anupwardly disposed annular extension 55 which projects through theaperture 41 in casing 40, when the timepiece is inserted therein. Asshown, the peripheral flange is adapted to engage conductive ring 43.The bezel further includes an annular groove 57 into which is press fitthe edge of crystal 59 as is customary in the art. Thus, the bezel 51can be rotated, carrying crystal 59 with it, while at the same time itis in conductive contact with ring 43 at all times.

The extension 55 also serves as a convenient means whereby manualmanipulation of the bezel can be readily accomplished. Thus, in anyposition of bezel 51, it is in electrically conductive contact with ring43, thence to the power source B, the radio receiving circuit R andwhich in turn is connected by any convenient means to the watch case 45,all as schematically illustrated in FIG. 4.

As also shown in FIG. 4, contact arm 60 extends through crystal 59 andcontacts bezel 51 adjacent the inner periphery of extension 53 and hasits inner terminal end 61 magnetized and disposed in close proximity tothe plane in which hour hand 37 rotates, whereby as the hand approachesthe position at which the contact arm is located, it will be pulledmagnetically into engagement with this end of the contact arm.

Thus at a selected time for which the contact arm 60 is set, the hourhand will be drawn quickly into conductive engagement with the contactend 61, or vice versa and the power circuit will be completed via thewatch case 45, the hand 37, contact arm 60, bezel 51 and ring 43 toenergize the radio receiving circuit R.

FIG. represents a slight variation on the FIG. 4 structure in that, allparts remaining the same, the contact arm 60 is connected to the bezel51 below the crystal 59 rather than being connected through the crystalas in FIG. 4. In some applications this arrangement may be preferable,being simpler to construct, though in the FIG. 4 arrangement will enablecrystal 59' to be readily interchangeable in any of the structuresdisclosed herein or in my aforesaid copending application Serial No.417,738.

Having thus described my invention in detail it will be apparent thatvarious combinations and permutations and modifications will occur tothose skilled in the art, all of which fall within the spirit and scopethereof as defined and limited only as set forth in the claims, wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. A clock radio comprising a radio receiving circuit and a powersource, switch means for periodically encrgizing said circuit from saidpower source, said switch means comprising a timepiece having at leastone rotating hand, a movable contact arm carried by but insulated fromthe timepiece and having one end disposed in close proximity to theplane of rotation of said hand, said hand and said contact arm definingswitch elements at least one of which includes a permanent magnetattracting the other of said elements whereby when the hand and saidcontact arm are in immediate juxtaposition relative to one another thepower source is connected to said receiving circuit.

2. A clock radio as defined in claim 1 wherein the timepiece is a wristwatch.

3. A clock radio as defined in claim 2 wherein said watch is completelyindependent of said radio .and including means for conductivelyconnecting said watch between said power source and said receivingcircuit.

4. A clock radio combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the timepiecehand includes permanent magnet.

5. A clock radio combination as defined in claim 4 wherein the tip onlyof the hand is magnetized.

6. A clock radio as defined in claim 1 wherein the contact arm definesthe permanent magnet.

7. For use in a clock radio combination a timepiece having rotatinghands, contact means having one end disposed adjacent the plane ofrotation of one of said hands, said contact arm being insulated from thetimepiece and rotatable with respect thereto whereby electric currentcan flow only when said hand and the end of said contact arm are inabutting engagement, magnetic means attracting said contact arm and saidhand one to the other, at least one of said elements being resilientwhereby the magnetic means causes abrupt engagement and release of thecontact means with said hand or vice versa.

8. A clock radio combination comprising a power source and a radioreceiving circuit, a switch means between said power source and saidcircuit, a casing for said power source, said receiving circuit and saidswitch means, said casing being provided with an aperture; a conductivering surrounding said aperture, a timepiece mounted in said casing forviewing through said aperture, means connecting said timepiece to saidcircuit and said power source, aid timepiece comprising a case, aconductive bezel assembly rotatably mounted on said case, insulationmeans between said bezel and said case, said bezel assembly including anoutwardly extending flange in contact with said ring, a switch elementcarried by said bezel assembly, one end of said element being disposedin close proximity to the face of the timepiece, said timepieceincluding a rotatable hand adapted to contact said element, and definetherewith circuit closing means, said bezel assembiy including further,means whereby said assembly may be manually rotated relative to saidwatch case and said radio casing.

9. A clock radio combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said bezelassembly includes a rotating ring and said switch element is carried bysaid ring.

10. A clock radio combination as defined in claim 9 wherein saidrotating ring is insulated from the watch case.

11. A clock radio combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said bezelassembly includes a crystal and said crystal carries said switchelement.

12. A clock radio combination as defined in claim 8 wherein one of saidswitch closing means comprises a permanent magnet.

13. In combination, a radio comprised of a casing, a radio receivingcircuit and a power source; means between the power source .and saidreceiving circuit to periodically energize the circuit from said source,said means comprising a self contained watch mechanism including a pairof rotating hands, means insulated from but carried by the watchmechanism and movable relative thereto, said means comprising a contactarm having one end in conductive association with the power source andits opposite end disposed adjacent the path of rotation of only one ofsaid pair of rotating hands, and means for biasing said one of saidhands and said contact arm into firm, conductive quick acting contactwhen said hand moves to the position of said contact arm.

14. In a radio receiving circuit including a power source to energizesaid circuit; a switch mechanism, said switch mechanism including a pairof movable contact elements one of said elements comprising the hand ofa conventional timepiece and wherein at least one of said contactelements is permanently magnetized to attract the other of said elementswhen said elements are in juxtaposed relation with respect to oneanother.

15. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said timepiece includes acrystal and wherein one of said elements is carried by the crystal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,411 7/1915 Smith 340-3091XR 2,548,581 4/1951 Bigelow 200-674 XR 3,179,891 4/1965 Sharma 325-310XR 3,187,319 6/1965 Crawford 340309.1

KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner. R. LINN, Assistant Examiner.

